University of Michigan Center for South Asian Studies

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Girl Meets World

I landed on the platform (train) and due to my lack of phone at that point, had to wait about 25 minutes before my aunt (Atya) came to pick me up. I spent that time observing the small chit chat of the people around me and the absurd amount of trash on the train tracks. From the time that I sat on my aunts scooter (activa) to the point where we entered the apartment complex I tried as much as possible to shut my eyes so I wouldn't have a heart attack looking at all the traffic. We ran 4-5 red lights and at one point I'm pretty sure we actually stopped at one and had to run it because the cars behind us were honking at us to go....I know right.
I was greeted in Pune with a light shower of rain as we parked the scooter in Kusumkunj (my aunts apartment). Atya (my dad's older sister), Vahini (brother's wife) and my cousin Manasi were there to greet me.
This placed had changed a lot as us kids had grown older. There was now a bungalow in the area that we used to play outside, my aunt and uncle had bought two more flats in the same building and even the bathrooms had changed from indian toilets to western toilets.
While so many things had changed, there was still a familiar smell and millions of memories attached to this place and I at once felt like I had come home.

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About Vaidehi Dongre

Vaidehi is a sophomore majoring in International Studies with a focus on Southeast Asian political economy and development. After graduation, she is interested in obtaining a JD/MBA in International Law. Vaidehi will be working with scholars in Pune for four weeks to explore the difference in relationships between female employers and female maids depending on age group and income level.